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Hi, I have a problem keeping the pilot on. I am tested the thermopile and it seems to be working fine. I then replaced the main gas valve with one that also works in another deepfryer, but it still will not stay on. Can you help me? regards Tony
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When the main burner turns off, does it make a whoosh or pop? If so, this would be the issue causing the pilot to be disturbed. And have you tried to adjust the pilot/thermopile strength, if possible? A stronger pilot may help. Now if the main burner slowly goes out, and the pilot also slowly goes out, and also slow to ignite, and you've replaced about everything else, it may be the gas valve itself that has/is giving up. Gas is impure and causes a sticky residue. And if the main burner is "slow to act", this tells me the piston that's inside the valve is slowly opening or closing, and may be the reason the pilot is acting up. Make sure you check the outlet to your flue pipe also for obstructions. If the unit doesn't vent properly it can have more heat in the flue. That heat can have a downward rush when the burner goes out, kinda like forcing air through a clogged tube. And when you quit forcing the air, some of it comes back at you. Before condemning the valve try to check all else as you have done with the thermopile and such. Please work safe and I hope this helps.
Check if the gas pressure is of rated pressure as stated on unit's nameplate. Make sure that the thermopile is free of soot or any form of dirt, a clean thermopile will absorb as much heat from pilot flame as it needs to generate small amount of voltage to energize pilot and main valve coils of the gas valve. The pilot flame quality must be good. Hi limit must have continuity across its terminals when tested with an ohm meter.
The Thermocouple or Thermopile has failed and needs to be replaced. The Thermocouple is a safety feature that keeps the pilot burning if all operations of the gas valve are safe. If the pilot burns, the burners will light. The Thermocouple shuts off the gas control valve if the pilot goes out.
Check if the the gas pressure is sufficient (as stated on unit's nameplate). Check if the hi limit device is good. Check also if the thermopile (cylindrical metal with two wires standing behind the pilot hood) is receiving enough heat from the pilot flame. The voltage generated by thermopile should be 500millivolts in order to open pilot and main valve. If there is 500millivolt on gas valve thermopile and the pilot flame does not stay lit, you have to replace the gas valve. If the thermopile is glowing red and the voltage generated does not reach 500 millivots, you have to replace the thermopile.
You have to check the following: 1. Does the pilot flame has the ability to heat up the thermopile? Themopile must be properly heated in order to generate voltage to open the pilot valve as well as main valve. 2. When the thermolpile is heated, does it generates 500 millivolts? If not, your thermopile needs replacement. If it does and still the pilot flame wont stay lit, your gas valve needs replacement. 3. Does the hi limit device has continuity on its terminals? If there is no continuity on hi limit terminals, you have to replace it. One of the thermopile wire passes on this hi limit terminal to cut the voltage supply on pilot valve in case the oil temperature reaches 450F. 4. Check and tighten all wiring connections, millivolts generated by thermopile will not pass on loosely terminated wiring.
Check if your pilot flame sufficiently heats thermopile during operation and make sure also that it is free of soot or any form of dirt, thermopile generates small amount of electricity to energize pilot and main valve of the gas valve for pilot and main burner operation. This electricity passes through hi limit mechanical contacts. Hi limit on fryers act as safety device which will shut down pilot and burner flame when oil temperature reaches 450F. If your fryer is set at 350F and over shoots up to 450F (which will trip hi limit and shut down pilot and burner flame), the thermostat is not good, but, if hi limit trips on temperature much lower than 450F, hi limit is bad.
A thermcouple is what keeps pilot on, if your unit has both a thermocouple and thermopile then your pilot CAN stay lit and main burner not come on.do not buy a gas vavle untill you check the thermopile voltage!! very costy blunder.this is how you test it..( open circuit test) Disconnect thermopile leads from valve. take a volt meter set it to millivolts- set it to a mv reading above 500 so that you can test it correctly, my meter has 2000 setting and I use that. connect T/P leads to meter leads.. reading should be 500mv. ( closed circuit test) connect leads of meter to terminals that your thermostat or on/off swich are hooked too, usually top and bottom terminals on most gas valves, turn unit on and reading should be 150mv or more... you need try open circuit. I can test your vavle too if you like keep me posted if I helped or not. 15 yrs experience in gas repairs!!
For sure if you got gas to the unit.The only thing to keep the pilot for working is hi limit,thermocouplen.One other thing is does this unit need power for it to work?
change the gas valve, if the thermocoupling works and the piliot stays lit then it has to be the gas valve check to make sure the screen is clear also,, you said it's propane, check to make sure it is all the way turned on, and has the right pressure it might have a bad regulator on it, but will let other things in the house run good luck
Hi there, it sounds like your thermopile, for the pilot, is failing during use, when this happens, the small DC voltage it generates is less than the gas valve requires to stay open, and shuts off the pilot, which shuts off the main burners. Another thing that could be happening, is the hi limit is opening prematurely, instead of shutting of the pilot at 450 deg. it now is opening at 325, or 225 or 250. Sometimes the sensing bulb gets broken where it pass's through the oil tank causing this symptom. If you temporarily bypassed the hi limit to test this also, and it still goes off, you need a thermopile. If it stays on, check your temp with a reliable thermometer, and see if it reads fairly close to your setting, if so, then you need a hi limit. Hope that helps, and thank you.
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